Mastersorbet

Hi

I was driving down the highway when out of nowhere a rock showed up and I ran over it. Long story short, I bent (caved in) a runner for my left side header. Is not completely pinched closed but the diameter is dramatically reduced. I know that this will affect my top end performance and I've already ordered a replacement. My question is, can I drive the car without any risk of damaging something else until I get the new header?

flyeri

What is the definition of dramatically? 80%, 50% reduction? How hard are you going to tromp on it? If you haven't crushed it real bad normal driving will probably not be and issue. If you have crushed it 50% I'd hold off on much driving. On my C3 big block the #3 primary has a big dent from the manufacturer to clear the steering box. There is also a dent in one tube to clear the frame. These are 2 1/8" tubes with maybe a 85% restriction.

Mastersorbet

I'd say I crushed it 50% or so. I just took it for a drive and opened up on it and it felt normal, no back fire, no rumbling or any vibration. I drive it with no more than 50% throttle normally and I don't really race it.

Suds

I personally would drive it fairly easy until it's replaced, and you will enjoy opening it up once it's replaced.

Mastersorbet

Joe_G

If you watched Roadkill episode 40, you will see that they beat the bejeezus out of the headers to fit a big block in a Duster and it still turned out very respectable dyno results at the end.

So I'd say you are totally fine.

Here you go, check this out, 10:28 seconds in if this link doesn't take you right there. That is what you call beating the beejusus out of headers right there.

Sayfoo

If you ever do this again, be aware that you can remove dents.
Sometimes you can pound them out from either end, or you can pull them out with a slide hammer and then weld up the hole, or cut out the damaged section and weld in a patch. A lot cheaper if you can do it your self, and if it's on the bottom, you may be able to do it on the car.

CHJ In Virginia

Absolutely nothing to worry about during normal driving. If you were tracking the car, I would say wait till you get it fixed. Have you gone to a muffler shop to see if they can splice in a section of pipe in the crushed area ?? That will be way cheaper than replacing the entire unit, and it can probably be done while on the car.

Mastersorbet

So I replaced it. I know it's the expensive way of fixing it but it gives me peace of mind. I may just go ahead and fix it so I can save it for a "just in case" this ever happens again and use it as a spare. Luckily I'm a welder and a machinist so it should not be much of an issue to fix it. Thanks for all the inputs. For yall's enjoyment, look at the pictures of the damage.

Suds

Damn, you crushed that thing like a beer can.

And I don't think that was 50% open, more like 20%.

Joe_G

Wow! Any other damage from that evidently huge rock?

Mastersorbet

No, that was it thankfully. It could have been worst like the oil pan or any other drive train component.

Joe_G

That's what I was thinking! A rock like that took out a friend's oil pan and he blew the engine before he figured it out.

schpenxel

Wow that is a lot worse than I was thinking when you said it was bent!